So, as you guys all know, I normally write blog posts about nutrition and/or the health benefits that different foods have to offer. But today I decided to switch it up and write about the topic of dieting before our wedding (which is coming up June 1st!) Unfortunately, we live in a society where there SO much damn pressure to look absolutely freakin perfect on your wedding day. As if planning a wedding and preparing for the day itself isn't enough for you to worry about. Throw in the added stress of trying to lose weight or tone your arms so you look a certain way for ONE day and you'll be ready to lose your damn mind. Trust me, I've been there. I will say though, the thought of creating an intense workout routine to do just that DEFINITELY crossed my mind as soon as we set our wedding date.

As the months started flying by, I realized that I shouldn't be exhausting myself in order to try and look a certain way because society or other people expected me to. Another reason I decided not to put myself on a diet or set up a crazy workout routine to follow is because I wanted to make sure that I looked like myself when I walk down the aisle. I didn't want to look completely different on our wedding day, I wanted to look like me. Justin sees me everyday and he loves me just the way I am now. I eat healthy most of the time and I didn't want to start restricting myself from eating the foods I really love. During my college years, I learned that if I didn't allow myself to have the food(s) I was craving, I would end up eating WAY more of whatever it was to make up for all the times I didn't allow myself to eat it. Basically - diets just DON'T work. And there was also no way in hell I was giving up chocolate, cheese, or red wine for a year and a half. I'm not saying you should go eat a bar of chocolate, block of cheese and a bottle of wine to the face everyday. What I am saying is that there is NOTHING wrong with eating the foods that bring you joy. Food is meant to be enjoyed, you shouldn't feel guilty or beat yourself up after eating foods that make you happy.

I distinctly remember a comment that was made to me by a family member during the holidays last year. It was something along the lines of "don't become one of those skinny brides who doesn't eat anything". The funny thing was, it was said to me as I was shoving a DELICIOUS piece of homemade apple pie into my mouth. This piece of pie also had a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. It just goes to show you that you're going to hear opinions from most people that you encounter, whether you ask for them or not. You will hear them from family, friends, acquaintances and see them ALL over social media. What's important to remember is that EVERYONE has opinions, but that doesn't mean you have to listen to them. (You know the saying, "opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one". Just had to throw that in there because it's one of my favorites, haha)

Another thing I realized over the past year was that I really NEEDED to listen to my body. We had been super busy with work, family, friends, and events, non-stop, since last May. The priority for us was making sure we had time to spend with each other. It became very clear to me that trying to stick to a strict workout routine wasn't going to work for me. Some mornings I woke up exhausted and chose extra sleep rather than working out. I then found myself feeling guilty that I hadn't gotten up. What did that do? It only made me feel bad and in turn, quite negative overall. The thing was, the days that I chose to get some more sleep - I felt much better throughout the day. So why was I beating myself up about it? Simply because of the pressure that is constantly surrounding us.

So I made a deal with myself - to focus on listening to my body and working out whenever I wanted to. That meant paying attention to how it felt and what it was craving on a daily basis. And that's exactly what I've done for the past year. Being healthy is not about being on a diet 24/7, it's making realistic, sustainable choices that fit in with YOUR own individual lifestyle. Choices that make YOU feel good and make YOU happy. That is what matters.